A New Colombo Plan mobility grants has supported 20 students from the University of Sydney to learn about Indonesian traditional medicine (jamu).

The students travelled to Bogor on the island of Java to study the biology and cultivation of jamu plants, as well as their social and religious context as part of a two-week fieldtrip organised by USYD's Sydney Southeast Asia Centre.

Students' hands-on fieldwork visiting community herb gardens, beekeepers and jamu testing centres was complemented by lectures with local experts from the Agricultural University of Bogor (AUB).

The group studied the microbial functions of medicinal plants and the processes involved in making jamu. Students also had the opportunity to spend time with local communities to learn about their cultivation and use of traditional medicine.

"My trip to Bogor, Indonesia, was incredible," said Alexandra Dwyer.

"The staff and accompanying students from AUB were not only accommodating and incredibly bright, but also extremely welcoming and kind to us, regardless of any language barrier.

"One of the students said to me on the final night: 'Kindness is more important than language when it comes to friendship', which I entirely agreed with. The trip was eye-opening and I learnt so much about traditional medicine and Indonesian culture, and made some amazing friends along the way."